Section 1634(a) of the Social Security Act outlines that when a disabled person in Florida is awarded Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) benefits by the Social Security Administration (SSA), SSA sends an email to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). In this letter, SSA requires that Florida provide free Medicaid as a condition of
Florida Special Needs Law
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SSI policy for home ownership and purchase of a home by a trust [SSA POMS SI 01120.200.F.]
If the trust is a resource to the individual, the property at issue is subject to exclusion as a home under SI 01130.100. Even though the trust holds legal title to the property, the individual, as trust beneficiary, still has an (equitable) ownership interest in it. Therefore, whether the property…
Quick Note: What’s in the U.S. House of Representatives budget that passed this week
The budget plan passed by the House this week includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts. To offset the $4.5 trillion, the plan includes severe spending cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, and Social Security.
Seventy-two million Americans rely on Medicaid, half of them children. Forty-two million Americans receive food stamps.Federal workers at the Social Security Administration…
Can Both Spouses Claim Social Security Disability Insurance?
Both spouses can claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, each spouse must qualify on their own. SSDI benefits consider the work history and earnings of each person who has worked and paid Social Security taxes for the required number of years.
Family Benefit Amounts
If neither spouse has children eligible for SSDI family…
I Don’t Need SSI or Medicaid. Why Get a Special Needs Trust?
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal program that typically provides cash stipends to people who have paid into the Social Security system and who can’t work because of a disability. (In some cases, it is possible to receive SSDI even if you haven’t worked.) In most cases, when someone has been eligible for…
Omitting Food Stamps from In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations
Emergency Memorandum-24048—Omitting Food from In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (aka “food stamps”) will no longer be considered when SSA calculates In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM).
• This EM details the instructions that Field Office (FO) and Regional staff will follow when implementing these changes starting Monday.
- Over 60
…
Bill Would Make Expiring ABLE Account Provisions Permanent
Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) have introduced the Ensuring Nationwide Access to a Better Life Experience (ENABLE) Act. The bipartisan bill seeks to extend three expiring provisions of the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE)program, which allows disabled individuals to invest in tax-advantaged accounts while protecting their eligibility for federal aid programs.…
I’m on SSDI. Can I Work and Keep My Disability Benefits?
For adults receiving disability benefits, pursuing a career is often not an option. To receive such benefits, an individual must not be able to engage in “substantial gainful activity.” The federal government defines substantial gainful activity as earning more than $1,550 a month (in 2024) through employment.
However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) does offer…
2025 COLA Increase: 2.5%
Today, Social Security announced that the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2025 will be an increase of 2.5%. Beneficiaries will realize the benefits of this increase beginning in January 2025. Social Security’s Fact Sheet is a valuable resource for understanding the impact of the COLA increases and we recommend pinning this document to assist you in
Impairment-Related Work Expenses and Disability Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance(SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are two federaldisability benefits programs that provide monetary assistance for people with disabilities. Both programs allow recipients who work to deduct certain work-related expenses from their countable income. This can make it easier to qualify for benefits or, in the case of SSI, to receive a…